EVERY MORNING, TheJournal.ie brings you the nine things you need to know as you kick off your day…
1. #MOTORISTS: New European Commission rules on gender discrimination come into effect today meaning female drivers may face considerable hikes in their car insurance premiums. The guidelines which were published in January say insurers can no longer take gender into account when calculating premiums.
2. #DRUGS: Seven men will appear before courts around the country today charged in connection with a major drugs operation uncovered by Gardaí. Around 5,800 cannabis plants worth an estimated €4.6 million were seized in co-ordinated raids across the country yesterday as part of an ongoing investigation into cannabis cultivation. An eighth man, who was also arrested, yesterday remains in custody.
3. #ROADS: A 24-year-old man has been killed following a single vehicle crash in Co Limerick. The man’s car collided with a wall near Abbeyfeale at about 4pm yesterday. Gardaí are appealing for anyone with information on the crash to come forward.
4. #ENDA THE YEAR: Taoiseach Enda Kenny has delivered his end of the year speech to the people of Ireland – in which he praises citizens for doing ‘their bit’ to get the country back on track “so decently, so generously and, indeed, so honourably”. Watch in full here.
5. #CHEMICAL SPILL: Seven people have been brought to hospital following a chemical spill in Shannon, Co Clare. The incident occurred when workers were loading a batch of bleach at a company plant, RTÉ reports. None of those affected are reported to be seriously injured, and the Health and Safety Authority says the incident poses no risk to public health.
6. #THREATS: A Garda investigation has been launched into threats made against Archbishop Diarmuid Martin over his stance on the issue of abortion. Martin received a letter telling him to be “careful on the streets”, the Irish Independent reports.
7. #SOLSTICE: Crowds are expected to gather at Newgrange, Co Meath, today for the winter solstice. Just before 9am, the passageway and chamber of the Neolithic burial mound should be lit up by the winter sun.
8. #FISCAL CLIFF: The latest attempt to avoid a so-called ‘fiscal cliff’ in the United States has failed: a vote on a Republican bill to limit tax rises to those earning over $1 million annually was scrapped in the House of Representatives last night due to lack of support.
9. #MADOFF: The brother of Bernard Madoff - the former US businessman sentenced in 2009 to 150 years in a federal prison for masterminding a $50 billion Ponzi scheme – will serve ten years for his role in the scandal. Peter Madoff, 67, pleaded guilty to a range of criminal charges, including conspiracy to commit securities fraud, last June.
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